Does Acupuncture Work?

Psychotherapy, counselling and the role of a Five Element Acupuncturist

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 17:39:12 GMT

The term psychotherapy is derived from the ancient Greek word “psyche” meaning “breath”; “spirit”; “soul” and “therapeia” meaning “healing”; “medical treatment”.

Counselling is the means by which one person through conversation with another can give advice, guidance and support.

Within my work as a Five Element (FE) Acupuncturist I integrate aspects of psychotherapy (talking therapy) and counselling into my sessions as it’s important for patients to be given as much space as they need to speak openly.

As a therapist using the medium of acupuncture points to bring about positive change, I have found that FE acupuncture is highly effective in transforming people on a deep mental and emotional level. I need to closely observe in each of my patients which behaviours or thought patterns are detrimental to their health as it is my role to then address any imbalances in the best way possible.

Many patients will know if they are out of balance, for example, if they are feeling overly anxious, worried, angry, sad, depressed or in a low mood which is why they are seeking help. Effective treatment, combined with the right advice, can bring about a state of balance and improved well-being.

Listening to a patient is very powerful in assisting any treatment. As a practitioner I need to be fully present with all my patients in a non- judgemental way because it can be very healing when a patient is fully heard.

FE acupuncture, beyond any physical treatment, is to balance the emotions and bring about that person’s optimal state of being. The physical and emotional are often entwined, therefore, treatment aims to address both in a holistic way. Each patient is unique in what they present with, so each session must be tailor made for that person on that day.

With a successful treatment, there can be a shift in perception of past or current events or a lessening of the intensity of pain from past traumas. As the cloud begins to lift, comments such as “I feel myself”; “I am more at ease”; “I haven’t felt like this for so long”; ; “life seems less stressful”; “I’m more relaxed”; “my daughter said I seem happier”; “I feel like I’m in control again” become more commonplace.

As a practitioner I reflect back to my patients what they have said. I ask questions to better understand the patient’s needs and so they can better understand themselves. In the background I am choosing acupuncture points that will support that patient at that moment. For example, Acupuncture point bladder 37, also known as Soul Door, is a beautiful acupuncture point that allows someone to move through grief, despair or a sense of hopelessness. It also benefits the lungs and is therefore beneficial for all breathing issues including asthma.

I ask myself “what does this person need of me today?”

Some acupuncture points will treat the person’s psyche and others may have more of a physical benefit. All will aim to balance the person in a positive and healthy way.

No therapy will have all the answers. A person’s life journey continues with its inevitable ups and downs.

Ultimately, I believe that FE acupuncture can work at a profound level bringing about lasting transformational shifts. It can also be supportive on a day-to-day basis in helping people cope with the stresses of life. FE acupuncture very much deals with the psyche treating the “spirit” and “soul”. For example, the point Soul Door can help someone access the preciousness of life when something has caused them to retreat. Any person can be shown the door, but it will be their choice whether they step through it.

fertility acupuncture near me and full IVF acupuncture support

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 14:26:01 GMT

fertility acupuncture

IVF acupuncture

How Five Element Acupuncture can help with Fertility and IVF support

Fertility acupuncture near me and full IVF support.

The fertility industry is now big business and even within walking distance of my London clinic there are numerous centres offering assisted fertility and IVF treatments. What patients inform me is more often than not these clinics are totally booked up with some people feeling they are on a conveyor belt in a factory. While I do not ever feel the work I do operates at this level It would be remiss of me not to accept that I am still part of the fertility “machine” inasmuch as I offer Fertility Acupuncture. What I hope to explain is how I work with patients who either are seeking support while undertaking IVF, those who are having difficulty conceiving naturally and yet others who are starting out on their journey and have heard that Acupuncture can boost their fertility. I will use actual patients I have treated as examples but of course will change any personal details for privacy.

Tina (age 38)

Tina came to me a few years ago and had not been able to conceive naturally. She had been to a clinic and was advised that it was very unlikely she would conceive naturally as one of the tests had shown that her fallopian tubes were completely blocked. Tina was advised that the only option for her was to have IVF. When she came to my clinic she was feeling very low as she did not have funds for IVF and the NHS were unable to offer IVF (she found this out after she had started treatment with me). What happened with Tina is that she conceived about two months after starting the Acupuncture (she went on to have a healthy baby girl). During one particular session (treatment 6) she said she felt a movement in the lower abdominal area, just above the pubic bone and to the side, that would roughly be were her fallopian tubes are. It was Tina’s belief that this was the session that lead to her conceiving. While I feel it was all of the sessions combined it was interesting to note that this point is called “Door of Infants”. Other points I chose boosted her overall energy, lifted her mood, lessened stress and balanced her hormonal system.

Belinda (age 39)

By the time I saw Belinda she was not in a good way. She had gone through 8 failed IVF attempts (For those of you that don’t know these can have a strong negative effect on mood and energy. Some people seem to cope better than others). Before the next round of IVF she had about 3 months of treatment (once per week) and the IVF was successful. Now here’s the thing, was it her time or was it the Acupuncture. While I totally believe that Acupuncture helps to make the claim is not helpful. What I do know is that before Belinda had the next round of IVF she responded very positively to the sessions feeling more uplifted and finding some of that energy she had lost. In the very first session I had done a correctional treatment which I best describe as an emotional and physical re-set. It’s a bit like rebooting your computer but for the mind and body. This was probably caused by the IVF and the numerous disappointments that ensued. I then did further points such as “Gate of Energy”, “Womb”, Various points that directly address someone’s spirit (think emotionally lifting). Five Element Acupuncture is holistic so in all sessions you are treating the mind, body and spirit. The approach is very much to support all needs of the patient in the best way possible.

Sandra (age 35)

Sandra had tried naturally without success and was trying to avoid the full IVF route. By the time I saw her she had had one failed IUI attempt. I would not say that Sandra was very low but she was quite anxious and had a tendency to obsess about certain things. She had about two months of treatment (once per week) and the great news was that the second IUI attempt was successful. Treatment helped greatly in relaxing Sandra and she found that any worries that surfaced seem to dissolve much quicker. She observed that she was much calmer and seemed to be more in control of her life. I used the usual points for balancing hormones and added very grounding points that brought about a sense of balance. Sometimes people can become “stuck” in their lives and acupuncture has the ability to free the person and open them up to new possibilities. This allows better processing and just as we digest food it allows them to “digest” events. Sandra went on to have a baby girl.

In the treatment room, how I approach each patient walking through my door is vital to the success of treatment. Every person is very unique and the consultation is very detailed. All the medical facts are relevant but the person’s life story is even more important. I ask who is the person? How can I help this person today? At what level do they need help?

In the initial consultation I form a tentative diagnosis (diagnosis is ongoing as the patient returns for further sessions) which acts as the foundation of the first session. I will simplify treatment into two aspects :1. Clearing blocks 2. Further treatment

Clearing Blocks

I will give some examples of the types of blocks that can exist that can stop someone conceiving. In treatment if the blocks are not cleared the patient will never fully benefit from the sessions.

Put simply a block is like a doorway or gate that is jammed. This can happen in various areas in a patient’s body so that their energy is not flowing. The re set that I mentioned earlier with Belinda was a massive block. This effects physical and emotional well-being at a very deep level.

Another common block that occurs with women having trouble conceiving is a CV/GV (conception vessel/governing vessel). There are 14 channels (like rivers) along which the energy flows. Acupuncture points are located on these channels. The Conception vessel runs up the midline from the genitals to just below the bottom lip and the Governing vessel runs from the base of the coccyx, straight up the spine and ends at the top lip. These channels then connect internally. There are various factors that can cause a CV/GV block but any form of sexual abuse or early negative sexual experience has the potential to disrupt the flow of energy along these channels. The Conception vessel travels straight through the genital area so it is not surprising how a block here can cause fertility issues. Once cleared this can not only help with fertility but have a profound effect on the person’s well-being.

In acupuncture we are working with energy. Nerve pathways are constantly sending electrical (energy) messages throughout the body. Acupuncture in simple terms accesses the person’s energy in order to bring about the best state of optimal function both at the physical and emotional level.

In Western medicine sometimes people need antibiotics. They have a bacterial infection and without the medical intervention that will not get better. This can be viewed as a medical “block”. In Acupuncture we are simply working with needles to clear any blocks. As another analogy a block is like a blocked gutter. At the outset the blockage does not cause many problems but left unattended the resultant issues get worse and worse.

I have only highlighted a couple of blocks above by way of example but many more exist. Not every patient will need a CV/GV block clearing nor a “re -set” but they may need the clearing of another block which is unique to their case.

Further Treatment

Once all the blocks have been cleared treatment progresses.

There are different styles of acupuncture and I practise the branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine known as Five Element Acupuncture (the other main system is Traditional Chinese Medicine - 8 Principle - referred to more commonly as TCM). I admit my bias but as I write this, I have been in clinical practice for over twenty years, have used Five Element Acupuncture (FEA) solely and have a great success rate. Some practitioners combine TCM with FEA. My opinion is the same as the late Master practitioner JR Worsely (who I was fortunate enough to have been taught by) and My main teacher Nora Franglen (another great master who has written some lovely books on FEA) which is never to combine. The reason being that rather than increasing the benefits you are confusing a person’s system and thereby lessening the effects of treatment. This continues to be debated and amongst acupuncturists…

The progression of treatment is very much like building a house. First you must prepare and clear the ground, then lay the foundations, then the brick work, windows and finally the roof (together with the internal work). You do not start with the roof and then lay the foundations – it’s just crazy! This is the same with acupuncture and the choice of points. Some points need to be done at the outset of treatment and some later on. You do not start with the roof points and then do then do the foundation points.

The effects of acupuncture are accumulative.In the first 5/6 sessions different acupuncture points are used each time. If a patient’s mood is low then stronger points to lift their mood need to be used at the outset and then more subtle points can be added which further lift the person emotionally and progress the treatment. Treatment is very holistic in that you are not looking not just going through all the points that may be good for fertility but are treating that person in a very unique. Three patients all on their first round of IVF may require very different treatments. Yes, some points will be the same but the selection of points for those patients, will vary accordingly to their individual needs.

The number of sessions again is unique to each person with some patents needing more sessions and others less. My optimal advice for fertility acupuncture is to have about three months of treatment once per week. In the cases of IVF to start treatment 3 months beforehand although any treatment is better than none. Once pregnant, I recommend weekly (or as close to weekly) until the end of the first trimester to support the pregnancy and help prevent miscarriage. Then to reduce the treatments to anywhere between once every 2-4 weeks although generally one session a month works very well.

For patients continuing to try to conceive naturally I would suggest after the initial 3 months reducing the sessions to once every two weeks and then once every month.

In conclusion

I have treated many, many people over the years with FEA for fertility. Some have conceived naturally, some through IVF or IUI, some have used donor eggs some have used donor sperm. I have seen patients at the start of their fertility journey and some who have been on the road for many years by the time they step through my door. I have seen a lot of success but, of course, I have had cases where patients have not succeeded. The average age of my patients is 35-40 although I have had patients in their 20’s and some in their early 40’s. I estimate that at least 3 of of every 4 patients who seeks me out for fertility acupuncture is successful.

My role of a practitioner is to give the best possible treatments that I can for that person. It is to support that person emotionally and physically. It is hard to understand the well-being aspect of FEA until you have received it but the positive feedback from my patients speaks volumes. Trying to have a baby especially can be very tough emotionally. If a person has been struggling a while the news of someone else’s pregnancy can be very upsetting. Sometimes it brings tears, sometimes anger or even an underlying fear that their time will never come. I have to be there to support each patient in whatever way they need.

Wherever you are in your journey I wish you well and hope that you achieve your goal. I will leave you with one more of my patients.

Rebecca (age 33)

Rebecca had been on the pill for several years and had stopped taking it about 8 months before I saw her. She hadn’t had a period for quite a while and was looking for solutions. Treatment with her took the usual course as outlined above and although she readily admitted that she felt better in herself she was getting slightly disillusioned with the acupuncture. After 3-4 months of treatment her periods had not recommenced. I then received an email form Rebecca questioning the treatment. Yet again another month had gone by and she still had not had a period. She was away with work so her next appointment was scheduled in three weeks’ time. A week before her next session I received another email “I’m pregnant!”. Rebecca continued to have a session once per month and I last saw her when she was about 7 months pregnant. She went on to have a baby girl. I have had cases where periods have stopped and normally, with treatment, they start up again. This was my first case of no periods to straight pregnancy.

Five Element Acupuncture

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 12:04:53 GMT

Five Element Acupuncture (FEA) works on the principle that each person has a dominant element that shapes their way of being. When out of balance this can cause emotional or physical distress or illness. Also the balance and strength of these Elements and, in the case of FEA, the person’s core element, can dictate the speed of recovery after illness and their vulnerability to illness in the first instance.

If a person is involved in a car accident and are injured the cause of the injury is very clear. In a lot of cases the cause of illness is not so clearly defined and when we then enter the field of emotions a person may suffer a myriad of conditions such as depression, anxiety, worry, sadness, fear and a whole array of states that can affect the psyche and lead to physical conditions. A person who has anxiety may develop chest pains. Someone who worries excessively may develop stomach problems. The list of possible variations is extensive but it is now established in current neuro-science how the mind affects the body and vice versa.

Whereas most talking therapies pay their attention to the mind and physiotherapy directly relates to treatment of the body, FEA sees that there is a bridge between the body and mind. The connection is so important that both are treated as part and parcel of the same course of treatment. FEA in itself is a treatment that works with the body. The insertion of the acupuncture needle and the application of heat (moxibustion) is a treatment on the body. But acupuncture points stimulate and address so much more than the surface level of the body.

If we take the acupuncture point Conception Vessel 14 (CV14) - Great Deficiency as an example. This point has a direct relationship to the Heart and is said to help with chest pains, stomach issues, abdominal pain and even cold extremities. But in addition it is said to calm palpitations due to fear, be good for depression and have a calming effect on anxiety and hysteria. But more than that it treats the spirit. Spirit here, is not in the religious sense, but is the deeper core of a person’s psyche. It is a slightly deeper level than that of the emotions (mind). It is said that of the three levels of body, mind and spirit, when distress has reached the spirit level, a person will feel somewhat cut off from the joys of life. Most people are able to view a sunset and marvel at its wonder and somehow not be able to express in words how it makes them feel. Whereas we can express joy and sadness spirit remains slightly elusive but for many we can relate to what this means.

For some there is a total disconnection from the core of who they are. They wander through life not really knowing what their purpose is or knowing who they are. It may well be that they have suffered emotional or physical abuse, been involved in an accident or suffered from an illness. Anyone of these can be so overwhelming that it causes a person to cut off or be disconnected. In FEA terms we look at the patient and say that this person is out of “balance”. Treatment is aimed at restoring the balance to the best of the person’s ability.

FEA sees that a person has a dominant element of which there are five: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Each person has a dominant emotion which acts as a prism in the way they relate to their life: Anger, Joy, Sympathy, Grief, and Fear. We are all the elements and so we can feel all these emotions but it is when an emotion becomes extreme that we see states of imbalance. The person who is always angry. The person who seems to be living under a cloud of sadness. The person who is in a constant state of anxiety. People are very good at hiding their distress so to others they may seem okay but inside they are slowly but surely breaking down.

FEA ultimately aims to address imbalances at the core level and by doing so restore a person to optimal well being. In the treatment room a patient is given full attention and is observed and listened to attentively. The practitioner will form a tentative diagnosis and seek to bring that person into balance through the selection of acupuncture points. The practitioner will ask how can I help this person? What are their needs today? A plan of treatment is then set out and revised at each session. For when the patient arrives each time they are not the same person they were at the last appointment.

It goes beyond this article to explain fully how this is all achieved and really then goes into the realm of being taught FEA. But as an example and a way to understand let us look at a couple of ways the practitioner achieves this.

As I mentioned a Five Element Acupuncture practitioner will assess what a person’s dominant element is and in this journey, work out what acupuncture points may benefit that person. Also a very effective and simple treatment is the clearing of blocks. The simplest way to view a block is to imagine a gutter that is blocked or a gate or door that is seized up. This is effectively what can happen in a person’s system. So a good practitioner will diagnose and clear these blocks as quickly as possible. In fact they are a priority and if not cleared will limit the potential of treatment. A clearing of a block can have a remarkable and profound effect in itself.

A reconnection treatment that often comes up in the early sessions is a bit like rebooting a computer. It’s as if the person has too many windows open and running all at the same time. They simply cannot cope but also don’t have the mechanism in place to work out what to do. They feel like they are overwhelmed and out of control. This reconnection treatment allows them to move forwards and free them up so they can cope. It also allows the physical being of that person to function in a better way. It’s as if the person has stepped through a doorway into a new bright room that has otherwise been inaccessible.

A comment that often is made by patients is “I feel myself again”. In this simple statement is captured the essence of Five Element Acupuncture. It is to bring the person seeking treatment into the best optimal state of well being that they can be in. It is to help the person be in a state of balance so that they may function and overcome life’s obstacles. It is to give them a sense of inner strength and resolve.

David Thorpe

MBAcC LicAc DipBSSD YTTC

Clinics in Central London and Hemel Hempstead/Berkhamsted

Acupuncture for Menopause

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 09:07:31 GMT

What follows are my views on treating menopause (the absence of a period for over one year) and perimenopause (the transition period leading up to the complete absence of periods).

I will make the assumption that you know the mechanics of why this happens and focus on what you may expect from treatment and how it can help with what can be a very challenging time for women. The treatment commentary will be in support of women undertaking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) or trying natural alternatives.

A quick search will highlight the various symptoms but for ease of reference this is what Dr Louise Newson lists in her book Menopause:

Brain fog, mood changes, memory problems, low motivation, poor circulation, migraines and headaches, hot flushes, night sweats, breast pain, digestive problems, weight gain, loss of libido, vaginal dryness, joint pain, osteoporosis, muscle stiffness, hair changes, dry skin, acne, wrinkles, altered sense of smell, dry eyes, facial hair, burning mouth, dry mouth, frequent urination, urinary pain, incontinence and brittle nails.

Different sources quote a variety of symptoms, but this is a reasonably comprehensive list.

So, it would be lovely to say come and have some acupuncture and all your symptoms will be relieved – if only!

Some women are very fortunate and sail through menopause without too much fuss. For others it can be challenging, both emotionally and physically, at a very deep level. Some women will even feel a loss of identity and that their personality and sense of self has been shattered. It can place a huge strain on relationships, cause low self-esteem issues, anger and irritability, anxiety and worry, as well as a whole array of negative feelings.

In reality each woman’s journey will be different and so will their symptoms. Some will be easily manageable while others will have an impact on a person’s quality of life.

So how can acupuncture help?

In general acupuncture is about bringing someone into a state of balance and well-being. This is done by dealing with the stresses and supporting the function of hormonal balance. Certain points will be good for addressing hot flushes, headaches, digestive issues, etc. In addition, treatment is aimed at helping that person on a deep emotional level. While I have seen the huge negative effects of physical issues the emotional impact can be even bigger.

My belief is that Five Element Acupuncture can be a life saver for some women in helping them adjust and move through a challenging period in their lives. Most women who have acupuncture, either taking HRT or not, will find the treatments supportive. For some it will lessen the severity of symptoms and for others they may find themselves symptom free. If various issues are presenting some may improve while others may be a bit more resistant to treatment. Acupuncture can help address hormonal imbalances caused by stress.

Acupuncture also helps with the emotional side that can have such a devasting effect. Many people often link acupuncture with back pain, musculoskeletal problems, headaches and issues of a physical nature. The reality is that it can also be very effective at lifting mood, managing irritability, relieving anxiety and panic and creating a greater sense of control and general stability.

Is it worth trying acupuncture? Absolutely.

Does it address all menopausal symptoms? I don’t think anything on the market does that.

While no Acupuncturist can guarantee any result, I have seen many patients benefit greatly from treatment. I would recommend a course of 8 sessions, once per week, with a view to then spacing treatments out dependent on results. Acupuncture is accumulative so it is important to give it some time to work. Normally most people will have benefitted in some way by 6 treatments although this can happen even after 1 session. Treatment works on the emotional and physical all as part of the same course of treatment. In practice, if someone commits to treatment, it is rare that they will not benefit in some way. So, whether you are taking HRT or looking for an alternative, are perimenopause or fully menopausal, do consider Five Element Acupuncture for support.

While acupuncture may not have all the answers, many women I have helped have reported positive results.

“I was experiencing some unpleasant menopausal symptoms which I'd heard could possibly be treated with acupuncture so I made contact with David. I live overseas so David initially gave me advice over the phone and we then made a series of acupuncture appointments at his Hemel Hempstead clinic, limited by my time in the UK. I found the sessions helped significantly at the time and the tapping method has helped keep the symptoms at bay since. A very worthwhile treatment in my opinion.”

“I went to David when I really needed help with peri-menopausal symptoms. I had never really had much success with acupuncture for a different situation in the past, but I was pretty stressed and thought I'd give it a go. This was a different type of acupuncture so perhaps it would suit me better? In a handful of sessions, the difference was enormous. I still go for top ups and each time I am helped with whatever is the issue. He is very clear about what acupuncture can do and this helped me with making decisions about diet and lifestyle which was also part of the solution. David is utterly professional, listens carefully and knows his stuff. I thoroughly recommend him.”

“I have benefited enormously from David's treatment. I went for help with Ulcerative Colitis symptoms and menopause. My hot flushes went away after the first treatment and the UC symptoms have disappeared after a few treatments. I would not hesitate to recommend David's Hemel Hempstead acupuncture clinic.”

Acupuncture for Stress

Sun, 20 Sep 2020 13:35:54 GMT

We now live in a world where the events that happen in one part of the world are relayed across the globe in a matter of minutes. Our smartphones mean that we are constantly tapped into a never-ending stream of information and on an individual basis items that require our attention or response. This is out of our control and though we may create gaps in the inward flow when we switch our devices off, it is inevitable, that at some stage, we have to return. This is now part of our society and it is not within our control unless you hit the off button permanently.

What is in our control is our relationship with the electronic era, how we react and interact, how much we allow it to consume us and how this then impacts our stress levels. We can never control all that is around us but we can build strong resilience in how we adapt and create a sense of balance from within that allows us to manage and limit the stress so that it does not devour us in its wake.

What is stressful for one person is not stressful for another. Some people thrive in situations that others may crumble in. Small things like being late for an appointment create huge anxiety in one person while someone else takes it in their stride.

Events from the past can create triggers. If you have experienced bad turbulence on a flight this may create a fear of flying. Even watching a disaster movie which is not a real-life event can create that same sense of fear. An involvement in a car crash or even hearing about one may create stress about driving.

In all of the above there is what is happening in the external environment, and our internal reaction to the same. The majority of what happens externally (some may say all) is out of our control, but our reaction (internal) to the same is within our control. The problem occurs when the stress we feel becomes debilitating or overwhelming causing us to feel out of control. If we constantly feel stressed, it wears us down mentally and physically. This build-up of stress will lower immunity making us more open to illnesses.

A certain amount of stress called eustress can add focus and in short bursts can have a positive effect. The negative side is distress and it is this aspect we need to shine the light on. A quick search lead to this definition of distress: “extreme sorrow, anxiety or pain”. This is not a great way to live a life or to put it this way: why would you want to lead your life this way?

Patients come for acupuncture treatment for many reasons but the reality is that if they are in emotional or physical pain they are under distress. Some may be in tune with who they are, know that something is not right and seek help with the well-being aspect of their life. Some may be able to articulate what is going on: “I feel very anxious”, “I burst into tears all the time”, “I can’t cope”, “I constantly snap at the kids”. What is common to all is that they feel a loss of control and inability to change how they react. They know that they are not feeling good within themselves but do not have the means to change the way they feel or the negative reactions that are being created.

The key word from a Five Element Acupuncture perspective is BALANCE.

As soon as someone walks into the treatment room, I am diagnosing what is the root cause of this person’s imbalance. Why is this person not coping? Why are they not able to manage their stress levels? Sometimes it is obvious on an external level what is creating stress. Sometimes it is more hidden. The deeper aspect of the picture is what is not functioning within that person that allows them to be overwhelmed, and for some, even by what others may consider minor events. Why is it that this person is struggling?

Diagnosis in the treatment room is an ongoing process. A tentative diagnosis is made at the consultation and at further treatments that diagnosis is either confirmed as the patients feels better or the diagnosis evolves as each session reveals a little more of what that person needs. The diagnosis is simple in its aim. How can this person be brought into a state of optimal well-being? What do they need to bring them into a state of balance? For the more balanced a person is the stronger they will feel and the more they will feel in control of what life presents.

Some patients are so out of control that they need a reset. In this instance there is a great reconnecting treatment that compares to rebooting a computer – too many windows are open and the computer cannot cope. This treatment acts a reset for the person and for some can be quite transformational. Comments that are quite common from patients when they come back the week after this treatment are: “I don’t know what you did, but I feel normal again”, “I feel much lighter in myself”, “I don’t feel as anxious”, “my mood seems a lot better”. Ultimately this treatment allows the person to be in control again.

A build-up of emotional tension and physical dysfunction can also occur when “blocks” are present. Common ones that occur, and being too stressed is enough to create one, are exit/entry blocks. Putting aside acupuncture theory, the easiest way to understand these is comparing them to gates. If the gate is jammed and not opening and closing when it should, then there is a resultant build-up of negative tension. The treatment correction frees up the “gate” so that the energy within that person flows through at the right times. Put simply the gate is repaired so it opens and closes at the right time. The resultant effect is that the person responds naturally and emotionally in a more balanced way. It relieves the build-up of tension and creates a more relaxed attitude. This freeing up will also allow the body to function in a more balanced way and thereby improve physical issues.

So, possibly the patient has had a “re-boot” and their “blocks” have cleared. What happens next? Points are then selected that add to that person’s well-being. These are unique to each person but are aimed at building upon the foundations of the initial treatments to make that person as strong as they can be. For example, an acupuncture point, known as “Gate of Hope – Liver 14” may be used if a person feels a sense of hopelessness and cannot envisage a positive future. “Earth Motivator – Spleen 9” is a great point when a person feels stuck and unable to feel motivation for acting on things that need to be done. “Head Tied – Stomach 8” is an amazing point for clearing the head when a person feels they are consumed by thoughts or “Relax and Joy – Triple Heater 12” for when a person finds it difficult to access joy.

Treatment is combined with guidance from suggesting that maybe six cups of coffee a day may be adding to the stress or suggesting the person does some mediation or even takes a holiday. People will present with a myriad of life challenges and through the treatment they gain perspective and empowerment. As the person becomes stronger and feels more in control, they will require less treatment, until there comes a point where they may not need treatment or may only come back for top up treatments when needed. Seeking any kind of help is not a sign of weakness but one of wisdom. Sometimes people are too engulfed in their life situation to have the ability to work out how or what to do by themselves and that’s when they may need outside help. Once empowered through the treatment, they will be able to deal with challenging situations more easily and build up their own tool kit to help them through life’s journey.

Nothing will have all the answers but Five Element Acupuncture can work at a very profound level to effect positive change. It has the ability to balance the hormonal system and engage with the parasympathetic nervous system which takes us out of the flight, fright or freeze response that so often can be overstimulated. This allows us to live day to day, feeling more in control, relaxed and calmer, thereby, helping us to let go of stress and handle stressful life events from a place of strength and stability.

These two techniques are very good and can be found on my blog page:

How to release stress through the breath

Relaxation Technique - Body Awareness Scan

Acupuncture Treatment Post COVID 19

davidthorpe1965@hotmail.com (david thorpe) — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 11:16:17 GMT

I was recently asked by someone who has had COVID 19 but was experiencing post viral fatigue whether I could help them with acupuncture.

In the first instance, I do not treat people who think they have or have recently tested positive for COVID 19. These people should seek medical help or self-quarantine as per the government’s advice. Where I feel Five Element Acupuncture (FEA) can help, is in the recuperation phase.

Over the years, I have treated many patients suffering with post viral fatigue with positive effect. FEA treats at a core level and helps to boost the immune system, balance hormones and improve overall well-being. The connection between mind and body is paramount, so wholistic treatment is aimed both at the mental level (helping low mood, anxiety, worry etc,.) as well as improving functioning on a physical level.

COVID 19 is a viral condition and once a person has recovered from the contagious phase it can be treated in the same way as any post viral condition. While I do not believe that FEA has all the solutions I do believe there is great potential benefit in treatment for those people that are suffering with chronic post viral symptoms.

During a course of Acupuncture, I may well choose points that help with lung function, but more than that I will be looking to help restore that person’s overall well-being. This is done by selecting Acupuncture points that are right for that person on the day of the treatment. Each treatment is unique to that individual. The questions I will ask every time a patient enters the treatment room are “how can I best serve this person today?”, “what is the best way to restore this person’s health?”. While there may well be points of a more general; “tonic” nature that are good for all patients’ rehabilitation, each treatment will aim to address the imbalance that is being presented on the day.

I have treated many post viral conditions and illnesses that are more chronic by nature. Five Element Acupuncture has the ability to restore people to optimum health and to bring about a positive shift in that persons’ well-being. The individuals age, underlying health condition, severity of physical damage and genetic factors will all play a part in what is achievable.

I do believe that the work I do through Five Element Acupuncture has the potential to make a real difference in peoples’ well-being post COVID 19 or after any viral infection.

How to be calm with your child

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 15:40:40 GMT

Monday 30th March 2020

Start of second week of home schooling due due to Covid 19

Great Oneness - Acupuncture point Stomach 23

A great point for bringing about a sense of stability and wholeness. To help someone feel at peace with themselves and to act from a place of wisdom.

I thought with the home schooling that is taking place I would look at how to be non reactive while being with children.

The subject of how to parent is vast and there are many different styles. Most parents know that it is best to label the behaviour and not the child. What follows is far from definitive but looks directly at us as parents and how if we are reactive in a situation, it can have a negative effect.

In essence non-reaction is raising your consciousness in any given situation.

A reactive response would look like this:

Stimulus/event – Reaction

A non-reactive response would look like this:

Stimulus /event – Pause – Conscious Non-reactive response

Let’s take a reactive response example.

Your child knocks over a drink.

A reactive response would be to snap, shout or criticise the child. This reaction then has a negative effect on the child. They become agitated or upset which then causes further stress for the parent. The action causes a negative reaction, which exacerbates the situation. This would be an inappropriate response.

Now let’s look at a non-reactive response to the same situation. The parent takes a moment to raise their consciousness. The parent then responds in a conscious state. They are in full control. They react in a calm way. This way of responding will allow the situation to be resolved in a way that is both positive for the child and parent. This would be an appropriate response.

As we will be fully aware adults make mistakes. Sometimes we have accidents or choose the wrong words in a situation. It is guaranteed that your child will have accidents and act in ways that cause a response. This is out of your control and will continue to happen whatever you do. It is part of life and how they learn and how they grow. What is in your control is how you respond.

The example I have given can be applied to any situation. A reactive response not only creates stress in your child, but also adds to your own stress. In addition you may then be left with feelings of guilt about the way you reacted creating more stress. A stressed out parent will create a stressed out child.

While a stressful childhood can cause conditioned patterns, as we become an adult the patterns are not hard wired. At anytime there is the ability to do some rewiring and correct any negative patterns that do not serve us well. This is where Five Element acupuncture can work on the psychological creating a more balanced and calmer individual. It raises consciousness and helps people be more in control of their lives.

If a child is constantly being responded to in a reactive way then it is adding more and more to their residue stress levels. Children copy their parents and often how we are is reflected back to us in their behaviour. Most parents will recognise their own negative patterns and work to not pass these on to their own children. The more conscious and non-reactive you are the better the chance you have in succeeding with this.

Let’s go back to the example and look at some practical solutions to help with being non-reactive.

1. Take a breath. Your child has spilt the drink. Before you say or do anything take a breath in and out. I do not mean an exasperated sigh, which is a reactive response, but a calm, controlled in and out breath. This acts as a gap between the response and your reaction to the event. For some this small act can be transformative. In the instance that you take that breath you are raising your consciousness. You are creating a gap between the event and the response.

2. Before you react ask yourself what you want to achieve. If you ask this question at the time of the breath you are empowering yourself further. You are taking control of how you want to be and you are consciously deciding how you want to engage with your child. Do you want to make your child feel guilty? Do you want to upset your child? Do you want to make your child feel stressed? If the answer is no to all of these, the more non-reactive you are, the easier the situation will be resolved without creating further stress.

3. Centre yourself. This means check in with your sense of being. This literally means raise your awareness of the inner feeling of your body. Two areas that are useful is the chest/lung area or area just below your navel. This grounds you and again ups your conscious presence. The more that you are conscious the less chance your have of being reactive.

B reathe

A sk

C entre

On a deeper level what we are examining is being present. In raising your consciousness you gain more control of how you want to be. Now I am making an assumption that you do want be a parent that empowers your child, making them feel listened to, confident and at ease with their sense of being. The more present you are with your child, the less reactive you will be, so nurturing a child that shows great emotional stability and resilience.

If your stress levels are not under control you will be more reactive. You will project your own stress on to your child so disempowering them. There are many ways to manage your own stress but I wrote this recently : How to manage your stress through the breath .

Now let’s go back to the three suggestions above:

1. Breathe - Take a breath

2. Ask - What do you want to achieve

3. Centre - Connect with your inner body

All three of these can act together to create the space to respond in a non-reactive way. In addition this can actively reduce stress that is triggered thereby lowering the chances of a reactive response. This can be applied to any situation.

One of the biggest things that can create stress is psychological time. It is being somewhere but in the mind being somewhere else. Either dwelling on the past or thinking about the future. You are helping your child in some way but your mind is elsewhere. Maybe your mind is re- living a recent (or old) conversation that didn't go well. You may have regretted what you said and are living with guilt. Something from your past plays on your mind and causes you to be stressed. Equally you may be worried or anxious about a future event leads to stress in then present moment. As I write this some people may feel very anxious about Covid 19 and the possible implications.

This leads to stress in the present moment even though the event has gone and the future event hasn't happened. The more present you can be with your child, the more you raise your consciousness to the situation in hand, the less likely you will trigger past and future negative stress. By allowing yourself to be completely present, you create a space for calm and peace. By being with your child in this state your relationship deepens to new levels.

If you are in the middle of doing something and your child demands your attention it is better to acknowledge them in a clear way even if it is to give them a few seconds of complete attention. Children of school age will understand this but a toddler has no concept of time so what you say needs to match the age of your child. It is okay to say to child that I need to do something now but I will get back to you later. Be clear, calm and relaxed in the way you communicate.

I hope that the above offers some kind of help in how to improve the relationship you have with your children. Some of you will already be non-reactive in your parenting, while others may find this to be a new approach. As parents we will not get it right in every situation. Do make sure that you give your children complete, focused attention everyday. This may not be for all the time, but when you can, be fully present and see how it can transform your relationship with them for the better.

The more patient and relaxed that you can be as a parent the less reactive your child will be. If your child is reacting in an emotional way be as calm and non-reactive as possible. Acknowledge their feelings from a place of loving-kindness. Be completely present as you do this and see what happens.

I leave you with this. When and if your child ever spills a drink again you will probably laugh, so that's something.

Much peace

David

How to release stress through the breath

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 13:24:26 GMT

Relax and Joy – Acupuncture point Triple Heater 12

Did you know that there is positive stress called “eustress” and negative stress called “distress” but most people associate stress with being negative, hence the comments such as “I’m so stressed out!”, “I can’t cope with the stress!”, “the stress, is really getting to me!”.

Another thing about stress is what is negative for one person may be positive for another. Some people thrive when giving talks while others crumble under the “pressure”. One person may come alive through rock climbing and another may be petrified by the mere thought.

Some people seem to have an in-built mechanism that they can cope much better in “stressful” situations than others. Often, but not always, if an adult has had a traumatic childhood or even if they have been brought up in a household where the parents are not calm, it can have an effect on how they respond in difficult situations. The programmed conditioning of our early years can cause us to be stuck in fight, flight or freeze mode so we are easily distressed.

The good news is that the programming is not hard wired and we have the ability to both manage our stress levels and how we react in challenging situations. While there are many ways in which we can release stress, I will give instructions on how to use the breath to relax. Know that this is available at any time and any directed work that you do will send positive messages to your subconscious.

Watch your breath

We breathe continuously and most of the time without thought. Other organs we have little control over but we can consciously hold our breath, speed it up or slow it down. When we are under stress the breathing is often negatively affected. Next time you are stressed observe your breath. Is it shallow? Are you holding it? Has it speeded up? Sometimes just the observation alone will improve your breathing. Then take three conscious deep breaths. This act reminds the lungs what they are supposed to do and acts as a break in negative patterning.

When we are stressed this can negatively affect the breath. If the breathing is impaired in anyway it can send a negative message back to the brain, which causes the stress to continue or even amplify it.

So, you have taken the three breaths now simply observe your breath. Is it steady? Are you breathing into your diaphragm area (bottom of the rage)?

Just by observing your breath it will improve and send a vital message to your brain to relax.

Why do we breathe? In essence, each in breath brings oxygen into our body which is then transported via our lungs into our blood and then pumped by the heart to wherever it is needed in the body. Equally the waste product of Carbon dioxide makes the opposite route and is expelled on the out breath.

A simple exercise

This is best sitting or lying down.

As you read these words observe the breath and know that with each in breath you receive fresh revitalising oxygen from the world. This air energises your whole system. It purifies and within seconds is sent via your bloodstream to wherever you need it in the body. Visualise or feel the oxygen as it is pumped by the heart, through your blood, to your toes, fingers and head. No part is left untouched by its purifying, uplifting presence.

Close your eyes and sense the energy of your body. Consciously engage with the breath, breathing in gently through your nose and out through your mouth. Feel the vibrancy of your inner body.

Know that with each out breath your body expels what it does not need. On a very deep level your body and mind know to let go of any tension you are holding. Allow each out breath to pass through you like a wave of relaxation. As your body moves into a state of ease so your mind clears and as your mind clears your body breathes another sigh of relief and relaxes even more deeply.

Stay connected with the conscious breathing for a while. While it may be good to take three deep breaths at the outset it is best then to stay with normal deep breathing. Once you disengage with the conscious breathing observe your normal breathing. It may feel more deep, calm and steady. Notice how you feel. Do you feel more relaxed? Have your thoughts quietened down? How does your body feel?

The above is a wonderful, simple and transformational technique that you will be able to access whenever you need. Once you have been through it 2/3 times It will be easy to remember. The positive effect will continue to work in the background via your subconscious. Just reading this will have an effect on your breathing in a positive way. It will send a ripple of energy that will continue to make you feel relaxed and calm.

There may be situations where doing the above is not possible. If you feel tension rising take three deep breaths. It acts as a break and will instantly connect with the background work.

In these times (24/3) of home schooling take a breath before you speak. This lessens the chance of making a reactionary comment that adds fuel to the situation. Listen – Breathe – Respond from a place of conscious awareness.

Much peace, David

How to calm the mind and release anxiety through nature

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 13:06:04 GMT

How to calm the mind and release anxiety by connecting with nature

Gate of Hope – Liver 14

I love the work I do and how it can help people on an emotional and physical level. While some patients attempt to understand acupuncture through a scientific lens, some of you will already know that behind nearly all points there is a spiritual aspect.

Gate of Hope is an acupuncture point I often use were someone feels that their future is bleak or that there is no way out of a difficult situation. It is a great point when someone feels that they are under a cloud of despair. It has the ability to lift a person’s spirit. It creates a window to light where there may have been only darkness.

It is also the last point on the Liver meridian (line of energy) which is also a part of the Wood Element. Wood season is Spring in and is a time of rebirth after the hibernation of winter (Water Element). In nature everything is surging with energy. Buds appear, flowers show their beauty, growth flourishes, birds sing and a wave of vital energy pulses through nature.

It is a time of great hope for the future and most people will ride this wave of expansive energy in a natural way. Nature is both restorative and enlivening. It calms us and refreshes our very core.

I often, as homework, ask patients to walk in nature. The following is an exercise that can be done at home or in the garden to connect with the positive and uplifting energy of spring.

1. Either inside or outside look at a flower. Examine it closely. How does it make you feel?

2. Look at the colours, lines and structure. Observe its uniqueness. When you focus on the flower what is happening with your thoughts?

3. Maintaining your focus on the flower take three conscious breaths in through the nose and out through your mouth. Draw the breath deep into your body feeling the expansion of your chest and slight expansion of your abdomen.

4. Feel your inner body as you observe the flower. Maintain the inner awareness as you continue to look at the flower.

5. Beauty and peace are within us at all times. Allow the beauty that you observe with the flower to connect with your inner peace.

6. Holding the picture of the flower in your mind close your eyes and observe your breath as you calmly and naturally breathe in and out.

7. As you open your eyes allow the feeing that you have to take in all that you see. Feel the calmness and know that this state can be accessed whenever you need. Know that by staying aware of your inner body, observing your breath you are able to remain in an awaked state of calm.

In nature you may wish to observe the buds on a tree, the grass beneath your feet or the gentle sound of birdsong. You may look at a tree and be in awe of its strength, flexibility and how it is able to just be. You may feel the gentle warmth of the wind or sense the aromas that rise and fall.

Either in the garden or when walking in nature allow your sense to heighten to what you see, hear and feel. Up the focus in what you observe and notice how you feel. Look around and be connected to the beauty. Know that the beauty that you observe is already a part of you.

Much peace

David

I wrote this Monday 23/3. As I looked from my kitchen window it is a beautiful spring day. The sky is blue, birds are singing, there are buds on the trees and flowers are in bloom.

acupuncture for anxiety

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 10:17:59 GMT

Using Five Element Acupuncture to treat Anxiety

Acupuncture for Anxiety

Someone who is depressed may be anxious and someone who is anxious may be depressed but sometimes they are separate conditions, although, a course of treatment can address both these conditions, I will focus on patients presenting with anxiety and what they may expect from treatment.

Anxiety itself can appear in different guises. A person may feel overly worried and slightly on edge. This could be verging on a state of panic to the point of finding many situations difficult to handle. They feel uneasy in themselves, find it very difficult to relax, thereby adding to their stress, and have sense of overwhelm.

For others the anxiety may appear in certain situations with a common one being the fear of speaking in public or being in an environment such as the tube. For most people the fear comes up and adds a positive edge to their focus. They literally “feel the fear” and do it anyway sometimes embracing how they feel to up their game (think actors or athletes). The problem arises when the anxiety kicks in and the mind shuts down so thinking becomes unclear or the person feels physical sensations such as stomach pain. The resultant physical reaction can then add to the state of unease and cause the anxiety to increase.

We have two states, one that is generalised and, one that is as a response to specific events. A patient may label themselves as an anxious person with that anxiety increasing when confronted with particular events. Even the thought of an event can increase the anxiety.

There are many therapies and even more drugs, normally low doses of antidepressants, readily available. I have found acupuncture to be very effective especially when combined with meditation and mindfulness in the treatment of anxiety.

I practise Five Element Acupuncture (there are various styles which take different approaches to treatment) so my further comments relate to this particular practise and what patients may expect from treatment.

As with any condition that a patient presents the initial session begins with a very detailed consultation to establish what may be the root cause of the anxiety, form a diagnosis and work out a treatment plan. This is not a case of looking up all acupuncture points that are beneficial for anxiety (of which there are many) but working out what is causing this person to feel anxious and, in support, selecting specific “anxiety” acupuncture points while at the same time correcting any imbalance in that person that may be exacerbating the problem. Psychologically people are different and it is my job to work out what unique pattern this person presents with and bring about a state of calm and relaxation in that person’s mind and body. My focus is to strengthen that person through the acupuncture treatments to bring about the most optimal state of being so they are better able to weather what life throws at them.

I would add that because of the unique nature of the individual so each treatment is unique to that person. Say I had five new patients in one day presenting with anxiety. The selection of acupuncture points may be different in each case. Five unique patients and five different treatments to address the same condition.

The first thing I look for in a session is what is blocking this person from being in a state of positive well-being. As an acupuncturist I work with energy and sometimes in a person that energy is not flowing properly. Think of a door that is jammed or gutter that is blocked. These “blocks” can appear in a person and can be caused by emotional stress or a physical trauma. I un-jam doors and clean out the gutters. For the patient this can be quite a transformational experience with the patient reporting that they feel “lighter” and more at peace with themselves soon after the session.

Clearing blocks is seen as the foundational work. A house built on poor foundations will not last long and so it is with treatment. There are a lot of points in acupuncture that are said to “calm the spirit”. These are great points to use for anxiety but will have limited value if the foundations have not been tendered to.

Treatment progresses building upon each session. In the first few sessions I often use different acupuncture points at each appointment. What is good for a person in treatment 6 will have little value in treatment 1 i.e., a man has crossed the desert and is severely dehydrated and you see him and offer him apple pie but all that they need is a few sips of water. Treatment needs to be very focused and I ask myself at every session “what does this patient need from me today?”

Sometimes patients feel an easing in their anxiety immediately and for others it takes a bit longer. For all patients who have allowed enough time and followed any advice, their anxiety has either gone, improved or become manageable. These are quotes from some patients after treatment: “I feel lighter”, “I feel like my old self”, “things don’t seem to bother me like they used to”.

In essence Five Element Acupuncture increases resilience to life’s stresses and brings about a state of inner calm. When a person is affected by negative events, they seem better able to cope and recover much quicker when a situation causes them to feel unsettled.

I will finish off with an example of just one acupuncture point and how it can be used:

Conception Vessel CV14 Great Deficiency – situated about 6 inches above the navel.

This point is indicated for anxiety, fear, mental problems, hysteria, agitation, stomach issues, depression, forgetfulness and chest pain. It is said to calm the spirit and revive a person who is suffering from emotional exhaustion. It is great for when a patient is too oversensitive to external events and feels overwhelmed.

Much peace...

Five Element Acupuncture

www.acupuncture-energy.co.uk

Relaxation Technique - Body Awareness Scan

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 10:17:53 GMT

Relaxation exercise in support of Five Element Acupuncture

I often recommend this technique to patients which can be very effective in calming the mind, de stressing, aiding sleep and boosting the immune system.

Once learnt it can be utilised in different situations to help maintain well-being and a sense of peace.

Peace and joy are within us at all times but sometimes life circumstances trigger negative thinking which can cause irritation, anger, sadness, worry and unhappiness. This cuts us off from the stillness and peace which is always within us.

For those of you familiar with yoga this is a variation on the relaxation pose at the end of practise. I taught yoga for over ten years and in my classes the relaxation session at the end of class was vital to the integration of the physical work.

I will set out the technique now and then add few helpful tips.

The Body Awareness Scan

1. Last thing at night lay in bed on your back in a comfortable position and take three deep conscious breaths and then let go of the breath.

2. Bring awareness to your hands and feel the vibrancy of the energy within them. Allow your attention to rest on each body area for a few seconds.

3. Move to the wrists, then the lower arms, upper arms, shoulders, feet, ankles, lower legs, knees, upper legs and hips.

4. Feel the energy of the legs and arms as a whole.

5. Move the awareness to the face and scan the forehead, jaw, nose, space behind the eyes, the top of the head, the ears and back of the head.

6. Move to the neck still with a gentle, light awareness and scan down the back all the way down to the base of the spine.

7. Bring that same awareness to the throat, chest, the area above the navel, the area around and below the navel and then into the groin and genital area.

8. If there is an area that you felt pain or tension return to that place and be with it. Observe it but do not try to change it.

9. Feel the vibrancy of the body as a complete energy field. Observe your breath.

10. You may find, particularly at night time, that you have drifted off or the focus has softened. That is fine. If you are still alert be aware of how you feel without judgement or trying to label and then let go of the focus.

I would start by doing this laying down but it can equally be done sitting upright. The time spent on this will vary from person to person but I would suggest 2 – 5 minutes.

It can be done with eyes open or closed. I would suggest eyes closed but do feel free to work out what works best for you.

Once ingrained it can be done in a few seconds in times of need. There are times during the day (eyes open in these cases) where a quick body scan may help bring you into the moment and make you feel more at ease. Any queuing, which can often cause irritation, can be a time to scan the body. In or out of work, creating a “mini break” by doing a scan can do wonders in dealing with stressful situations, preparing for a meeting or having to face a challenging situation.

For some of you will already have some kind of experience with this kind awareness technique. For all of you I would suggest doing this every day for 2 minutes (longer if you wish) for three months. This will be enough time to instil this as a positive habit.

I have meditated for years but still do this technique every night. Even now, as I get ready for bed, I look forward to that time. I feel this is something that you will also positively anticipate, knowing that it is releasing negative energy and stress, recharging you at a deep level and connecting with the peace and stillness that is always within you.

Much peace…

Five Element Acupuncture

www.acupuncture-energy.co.uk

General Health Tips In Support Of Five Element Acupuncture

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 14:22:12 GMT

General Health Tips In Support Of Five Element Acupuncture

I have been in practise for over 20 years and below is the most common advice, guidance and recommendations that I have given out to patients. Some of this advice is essential to achieve the best response from acupuncture treatment. When I work with patients I am not in the business of fixing people but encouraging and supporting the person’s own healing. Everything is geared to empower that person in the best way possible. The following lifestyle changes will only help a person feel better. Some are so important that they become the foundation for effective treatment. Even if you are not having acupuncture following this guidance can radically improve your well-being.

Drink Water

Our body weight is approximately 60-65 % water

( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_water ) and this number increases if we look at the brain. Water is essential to life and the functioning of our body. So many patients that present to me are simply not drinking enough water to hydrate them adequately. The ill effects of dehydration can cause muscle aches, headaches, low energy and a whole array of body dysfunctions. On average a person needs to drink a minimum of 1 ½ - 2 litres of water per day but this may be more depending on body size and exercise. Other drinks do not count with some drinks having a negative effect on hydration. When assessing and wishing to improve well-being the foundation is to drink enough water to stay properly hydrated.

Sleep

I wrote a separate article on insomnia ( https://www.acupuncture-energy.co.uk/can-five-element-acupuncture-help-insomnia ) which has interesting tips and guidance on how to improve sleep. Good quality sleep is essential to feeling good. If your sleep is disturbed it effects everything. Sleep is deeply restorative

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/why-lack-of-sleep-is-bad-for-your-health/

Exercise

Movement is essential for the body’s functioning. While we head deeper into a world that involves more and more time looking at a screen the increasing sedentary lifestyle takes it toll. Exercise improves blood circulation, gives us energy, helps to relieve stress, helps us to be in the body so getting us out of a “thinking” state that can sometimes feel never ending, release feel good endorphins that can elevate mood, improve memory and brain function and give us a sense of overall well being. While it is good to aim for some kind of cardiovascular exercise three or more times a week just simply going for a brisk walk for 40 minutes can be very effective. While there are many activities to choose from gym membership is not essential. There is something for everyone whether they want to play a team sport or go for a run.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/exercise-health-benefits/

Diet

We are what we eat! Fad diets will come and go but eating well will always be. Eating lots of vegetables and fruit (preferably) organic combined in combination with a good source of protein and mixed carbohydrates makes sense. Alcohol, sugar and caffeine intake should be kept to a minimum. So many places will advise on diet but the NHS gives the general facts:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/

I would add from a five-element acupuncture perspective each organ is allocated an optimum time of performance which in the case of the stomach is 7.00 – 9.00 am. Some people skip breakfast or eat a slice of toast and then wonder why they have very low energy later in the day. This is an absolutely essential time to eat well and I would recommend having some protein at this time. A cup of coffee is not going to do it!

Alcohol speaks for itself and we all know the detrimental reality of drinking. In essence moderation is okay but listen to how you react and age does count. It is a depressant and generally saps energy.

Caffeine puts a strain on the adrenal system and stimulates the fight and flight response. The problem is that boosts our energy in an unstable way. Over use can increase anxiety, make us feel wired, increase stress and disturb sleep. Some patients seem better at handling caffeine than others but for some people one cup a day is too much.

So much has been said and written about the over use of sugar and the damage that it can cause. For some good facts I found this article very useful:

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/truth-about-sugar

From a five-element acupuncture viewpoint we are trying to establish a positive balance through out the body and create a calm and clear mind. Sugar in its many forms creates an imbalance in this energy. Many people rely on the sugar hit of a chocolate bar or sweet drink to give them a boost of energy. The trouble is the body and mind by needing to reach for this for energy are already under strain and by reaching for that sugar hit it exacerbates the problem. It leads to further depletion of the person’s energy. Although anyone will feel better if they were to cut sugar from their diet this is probably not what most people choose. What I would ask you is to question how much sugar you ingest and your relationship to it? How does it effect your energy say an hour after you have eaten it? Do you reach for it to “boost” your energy? Being aware of that relationship empowers you to choose how you wish to continue that relationship.

Meditation (and mindfulness)

I have meditated for over 30 years. Mindfulness which is the application of a mediation practise in action i.e. how you engage with someone can be done in a mindful way, has become very vogue of late which I am very happy about. While much has been written and debated about the purpose of meditation I will keep it very simple – it de clutters the mind and acts as a way to release stress. I feel the benefits work on many levels and I recommend some form of meditation to most of my patients (some will actually follow this advice). My opinion is that mindfulness is rooted in meditation. That is meditation will give the mindfulness practise a solid foundation. There are many styles to choose from but what I would suggest staying with one style.

As a basic guideline I often recommend:

Mindfulness By Mark Williams

While for deeper insights I would suggest any writings by Chogyam Trunga of which these two are very good:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mindfulness-Action-Yourself-Meditation-Awareness/dp/1611803535

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Work-Sex-Money-Real-Mindfulness/dp/1590305965/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=work+sex+and+money&qid=1553872022&s=books&sr=1-1

Mindset

Our attitude to life is what we receive back. If you actively seek confrontation then confrontation is what you will find. I have children and have to drive my children to school. As ever the school cannot cope with the parking and the amount of cars at drop off time. Now here is the thing. If you wake up and think “oh, I’ve got to do the school run, it’s going to be hell!” Then already stress is being created for an event that has not even happened. This happens so much that people do not even realise they are doing it. This means that that person is already at a fragile state of mind due to their self induced stress which can then be further triggered by any number of following events e.g. the children’s school top cannot be found, the children are in go “go slow” mode, there are roadworks… and the list can go on and you can easily fill in your own events.

The reality is that you do not know what each day will bring but if your mind set is to expect the worse then you are already creating a negative experience, that is not happening, and its fallout. A much better way is to wake up with the intention that today is a going to be a good day. The burdening of yourself with something that may not happen serves you in no way whatsoever.

I am not saying don’t prepare. Let’s say that each morning, each day is chaotic as you frantically search for the children’s clothes, boots, schoolbook… If that is what happens then learn from that and sort everything out the night before. Some things are within your control and some things are not.

Taking the school run a step further I have noticed how drivers can be quite aggressive and impatient. Who knows what their personal situation is but let’s just say they have woken up “stressed” because there is so much to stress about and then someone is driving slowly which might make them late to drop the kids off and before too long there stress is in the red. I also believe that these same people see that they are in battle with everyone else – a me or them situation. This person, literally feels that each day they are going to war. Imagine what this does to their stress level and how they react if things don’t go to plan.

If this person was to wake up and greet the world with a smile and I mean be open to the fact that there day can be a good one then they are already managing their stress in a much healthier way. Also by changing their perspective and how they view the school run will effect how they engage with it. Instead of being at war with everyone else what if they believed that everyone was at war with the school run. Everyone is on the same side and working as a collective. The school run is still the school run but the way we perceive it changes the way we interact with it, the way we engage with other people and ultimately the way we allow it to affect us. On a positive note a lot of people already do this. They give way to other drivers, are patient when held up in traffic and even acknowledge and smile at other people. This attitude dissolves stress.

Sometimes we cannot control how another person is but we can always choose how we react. The more that one is in control of their own stresses, the more at ease they will be, the more relaxed and again the better their day will be. The positive “school run” mindset can be applied to so many situations. If you do have a bad day, then it is better to do a reset and let go of that stress than carry it over into the next day.

Acupuncture Excellence

David Thorpe LicAc MBAcC DipBSSD

www.acupuncture-energy.co.uk

Acupuncture for Back Pain

Mon, 04 Nov 2019 13:22:17 GMT

Using Five Element Acupuncture to treat Back Pain

This comes up frequently in the treatment room with some patients presenting with chronic (think months/years) back pain and some with acute (days/weeks) back pain. My treatment for any form of physical pain is twofold 1. Treat the person 2. Treat the pain. These go hand in hand and I will explain how my work will differ to say a physiotherapist.

In treating the person, you treat the pain, in treating the pain, you treat the person. It is a case of treating the person and the pain at the same time. What does this mean? If a patient presents with lower back pain then I may choose to use acupuncture points in that area. This would be seen as directly treating the pain.

Sometimes the patient presents with low mood, low energy or in an anxious state and this is where treating the person to alleviate the symptoms can help alleviate the physical pain. If the local work relieves the physical pain this of course can have a positive impact on the patients’ mood and energy. What can happen is that local work may not be enough or the treatment does not hold as the patients’ overall well-being is not in a good place. Acupuncture is holistic in its approach and treat the condition and the cause at the same time.

I am not denying that local work alone is sometimes enough to release the person from pain but working on that persons’ general well-being more often than not will have greater affect. If you see a physiotherapist, they will look at the pain and will work through the body to relieve the same. When I use Five Element Acupuncture, I will work with the body but will also assess the persons’ emotional state, whether they are prone to tiredness and look at their overall state of health. Through personalised advice and selecting acupuncture points chosen specifically for that patient I will hope to bring them into the best state of being, both mentally and physically.

I have found that acupuncture is very effective for relieving back pain. In some cases, it completely eliminates the pain, in others it reduces it significantly so the condition becomes more manageable. Just like you can have a chronic or acute condition (long and short term) so you can have chronic pain and acute pain. Most people cannot function if they are in acute pain. This is the stabbing, sharp often knife-like pain that can be very debilitating. Chronic pain tends to be achy, gnawing and draining although someone with chronic pain can still have bouts of acute pain.

Patients that come to me for back pain are sometimes surprised that acupuncture is good for the emotions and general well-being. The positive side effect of good treatment is more energy, feeling less stressed, better sleep and a much calmer state of mind. It is now known that stress and emotional agitation can cause pain to be heightened and pain in itself can cause stress and emotional strain.

By treating the person in their entirety, you are giving that person the best possible chance to release them from their pain or at the very least help them to manage it.

In addition to using acupuncture I sometimes incorporate some mild Shiatsu (Japanese finger pressure) which follows the same theory as acupuncture. The combination of acupuncture and shiatsu can often shift stubborn painful conditions.

As a practitioner I also recognise that my work does not address all conditions. Some pain syndromes are challenging. In the case of arthritic pain, it really depends on the state of the joint and how far it has deteriorated. If the cartilage has worn away then acupuncture may give some pain relief but it will not replace the cartilage.

The success rates are dependent on various factors but a 50 year old will respond better than an 80 year old. The longer a person has had the condition the more treatment they will need although every now and then a patient with a chronic (long term) condition may respond very quickly to the sessions.

If you are considering treatment aim for at least 6 – 10 sessions once per week. It’s lovely when a patient says the pain has gone after 1 or 2 sessions but generally people need more treatments as acupuncture is accumulative in its effect. I would expect a patient to report some tangible improvement (around 50%) from about the 6th week of treatment. A patient will improve dramatically in some instances and then the treatment will plateau for a while before they feel further benefit. I would love to say I can predict accurately how someone will respond to treatment but what I have learnt over the years is that sometimes the seemingly difficult cases respond very well and the cases that seem quite simple can be more complex.

Well does acupuncture work for back pain then? Generally, yes. But just as with the western medicine and operations the patient does not always respond as predicted. Some operations are successful and some are not. Some work completely while some give part relief.

I am more than happy to answer any questions. Please email via my website.

I wish you good health.

David Thorpe LicAc MBAcC DipBSSD GSEFT

Five Element Acupuncture and Integrated Practitioner

www.acupuncture-energy.co.uk

Acupuncture - Frequently Asked Questions

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 14:32:41 GMT

There are a few questions that come up time and time again so here are my answers. If you have a question that is not listed below please do get in touch through my website.

1. Does it work? I have now been in clinical practise for over twenty years and what still frustrates me as a practitioner is when it does not work. My experience is that if a patient comes for treatment long enough and follow any recommendations then in all likelihood they will benefit from the sessions. Acupuncture is not a magical cure all but so many patients have positive results from the sessions. This could be release from anxiety, improved energy, better sleep, a reduction in pain or a successful pregnancy. In a lot of cases the patient will improve dramatically and at the very least there will be some improvement in their well-being.

2. Does it hurt? An acupuncture needle is 2 – 3 times the thickness of a human hair. When needling if the acupuncture point is missed (this may be 1mm difference) the patient will sometimes not even feel the insertion of the needle. When the point is stimulated there is a reaction. People do feel this sensation in different ways. Often it is described as achy, tingling, sharp, warming and calming. Needling technique does vary as there are different styles of acupuncture. I practise Five Element Acupuncture and the needling technique is to insert the needle for 1 – 2 seconds, stimulate the point and remove the needle. Dependant on where the point is on the body can influence how the patient feels the pint. Any “discomfort” should only last a second or 2 then the patient is left with an echo sensation that is not exactly pain. There are some points that feel stronger but only for the second or 2 that the needle is inserted. A point should not continue to feel painful.

3. How many sessions? This varies from patient to patient and the nature of the condition. Chronic conditions that have been around for years are going to take longer than something that is relatively short lived. On average I recommend a course of 6 – 10 sessions once per week. At this stage benefits have normally been felt and the frequency of sessions can be reduced to say once every two weeks then once a month. Some patients require less treatment and sometimes, say with a chronic illness, patients may require more frequent treatment. It really does depend on the unique nature of what the person is presenting with.

4. What do I wear? During a session it is important to keep the patient as covered up as possible. I have found that for women either tracksuit bottoms or shorts combined with a vest top work very well. During the session any area that is not being worked on is kept covered with a blanket.

5. Is it okay to eat before the session? This is absolutely fine but I would recommend eating an hour before just to give the food sometime to digest. What I would not advise is turning up to a session without having eaten anything. This applies especially to patents who come for sessions in the morning. It is sensible to be hydrated so a glass of water shortly before and after the session is advisable.

6. Do not drink alcohol on the day of the treatment. This also applies to recreational drugs. It takes up to 48 hours for a treatment to be processed. Besides the effects of alcohol being exacerbated you do not want to ingest anything that could interfere with the session.

7. What can’t I do after a session? Life can go on as normal. The only proviso here is more to do with the first session. Sometimes patients can feel quite tired for a couple of hours or the rest of the day. This is more to do with the body not being used to the acupuncture. While it does not happen for everyone this is a common and normal reaction. For the following sessions this is unlikely to happen as the body has now adjusted to the acupuncture.

8. Will I experience any negative effects? Other than tiredness after the first session this is unlikely. Very rarely a patient may experience some adverse effect e.g. headache or stomach ache. There is something in the healing world called the Law of Cure. If something from the past has not been completely healed you can re – experience a part of it as your body tries to heal it. If this does happen it normally is on the day of the session and clears very quickly i.e. the same day. In my personal experience this is quite rare.

Acupuncture Excellence

David Thorpe LicAc MBAcC DipBSSD

www.acupuncture-energy.co.uk

How To Choose An Acupuncturist?

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 08:43:24 GMT

The journey you have with a therapist is very personal so it is important to get the right fit. The following is general guidance and is my opinion:

1. A good therapist will always be willing to speak with you to access whether the work they do is suitable and also to answer any questions. While it is not essential to speak with the acupuncturist beforehand this is a good time to get a sense of the style of that practitioner.

2. Experience counts. While it is okay to see an acupuncturist who has just started their career, a practitioner who has been in practise for a few years will have far greater knowledge, insights and often better results.

3. If you are going to have acupuncture ensure that they have the relevant training. I would recommend that they have a Licentiate (licence to practise) or are trained to degree level and have undertaken at least three years training. I also feel it is essential that they are a member of The British Acupuncture Council (MBAcC) which ensures that they adhere to stringent ethical codes and high standards of practise.

4. Cost. This will vary and is dependent on the practitioners’ experience and where they have a clinic. London room rentals are very high. If price is an issue find someone who has a home clinic as they will be more willing to offer a discounted rate.

5. Location. Try to find a clinic that is either very near to where you work or your home. The practical consideration of getting to your appointments should not be discounted.

6. Finding a practitioner. I have now been in clinical work for over 20 years. With the increased demand for acupuncture there has also been an increase in practitioners. What I would say here is that the standard does vary. If you can get a direct referral (this is how I get the majority of my new patients) then that is great. Failing that when searching look through few sites to get a general feel of what is on offer. There are some amazing practitioners but not all are great on their marketing so may not appear in that top 5 position.

Acupuncture Excellence

David Thorpe LicAc MBAcC DipBSSD

Five Element Acupuncture

www.acupuncture-energy.co.uk

David Thorpe - Privacy Notice

davidthorpe1965@hotmail.com (david thorpe) — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 15:37:28 GMT

Privacy notice For David Thorpe (referred to as we in this document)

Five Element Acupuncturist

Purpose of privacy notice The processing of personal data is governed by the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (the GDPR). This legislation will replace current data privacy law, giving more rights to you as an individual and more obligations to organisations holding your personal data. One of the rights is a right to be informed, which means we have to give you even more information than we do now about the way in which we use, share and store your personal information. This means that we will be publishing a new privacy notice so you can access this information, along with information about the increased rights you have in relation to the information we hold on you and the legal basis on which we are using it. This new privacy notice comes into effect and will be published on our website on 25 May 2018.

Who are we?

David Thorpe is the data controller practising at: Hillcrest, Felden Lane, Hemel Hempstead, HP30BB and Wimpole Therapeutics, 2 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 0ED. This means we decide how your personal data is processed and for what purposes. Wimpole Therapeutics do not hold any personal data of David Thorpe’s patients.

Whose information does this privacy notice apply to?

This privacy notice applies to information we collect from: • patients; • prospective patients; • former patients; • visitors to our website.

What is personal data?

Personal data relates to a living individual who can be identified from that data. Identification can be by the information alone or in conjunction with any other information in the data controller’s possession or likely to come into such possession. Examples of personal data we may hold about you include your contact and appointment details. Special category data is a sub-category of personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, and the processing of genetic data, biometric data for the purpose of uniquely identifying a natural person, data concerning health or data concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation. Examples of special category data we may hold about you include your patient notes. How do we process your personal data? We comply with our obligations under the GDPR by keeping personal data up to date; by storing and destroying it securely; by not collecting or retaining excessive amounts of data; by protecting personal data from loss, misuse, unauthorised access and disclosure and by ensuring that appropriate technical measures are in place to protect personal data.

We use your personal data for the purposes set out below.

1. We use your name, address, telephone number and email address to make and rearrange appointments. We are unable to send or receive encrypted emails so you should be aware that any emails we send or receive may not be protected in transit. We will also monitor any emails sent to us, including file attachments, for viruses or malicious software. Please be aware that you have a responsibility to ensure that any email you send us is within the bounds of the law.

2. We use your name, address, telephone number and email address, only if we have your explicit consent, to send you marketing materials. We are unable to send or receive encrypted emails so you should be aware that any emails we send or receive may not be protected in transit. We will also monitor any emails sent to us, including file attachments, for viruses or malicious software. Please be aware that you have a responsibility to ensure that any email you send us is within the bounds of the law.

3. Some patients and prospective patients return pre- 1st appointment questionnaires or tell us about their medical conditions and medication by email or online enquiry forms. We are unable to send or receive encrypted emails so you should be aware that any emails we send or receive may not be protected in transit. We will also monitor any emails sent to us, including file attachments, for viruses or malicious software. Please be aware that you have a responsibility to ensure that any email you send us is within the bounds of the law.

4. We keep a permanent attendance register which records all appointments for patients attending our clinic to keep a record of when you were treated for tax purposes and to secure potential evidence in the event of a criminal prosecution, civil litigation, insurance claim or complaint to my regulatory body, the British Acupuncture Council.

5. We may use your date of birth to help identify patients with the same name to avoid mistakes being made as to safe and appropriate treatment, for identification purposes if referring a patient to another health practitioner, and for identification purposes if writing to a registered medical practitioner so that they correctly identify the patient.

6. We use your presenting complaint and symptoms reported by you for the purposes of making a full traditional diagnosis, formulating treatment strategy and treatment planning.

7. We use any relevant medical and family history you have told us for making a full traditional diagnosis, formulating treatment strategy and treatment planning.

8. We use your GP’s name and address in the event that we need to contact your GP including in an emergency and because it is a mandatory requirement in the British Acupuncture Code of Professional Conduct.

9. We use our clinical findings about your health and wellbeing for making a full traditional diagnosis, and formulating treatment strategy and treatment planning.

10. We keep a record of and refer to that record of any treatment given and details of progress of your case, including reviews of treatment planning to enable us to: review the full traditional diagnosis, treatment strategy and planning; and to secure evidence in the event of criminal proceedings, civil litigation, an insurance claim or complaint.

11. We record and use any information and advice that we have given, especially when referring patients to any other health professional, to help you to receive the most appropriate treatment and to secure evidence in the event of criminal proceedings, civil litigation, an insurance claim or complaint.

12. We record any decisions made in conjunction with you to help you to receive the most appropriate treatment and to secure evidence in the event of criminal proceedings, civil litigation, an insurance claim or complaint.

13. We keep accident records for any patients, visitors or staff who are involved in accidents at our clinic in accordance with UK Health and Safety legislation including the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) to comply with the law and to secure evidence in the event of criminal proceedings, civil litigation, an insurance claim or complaint.

14. In the event of an adverse incident occurring to any of our patients we report the matter to the British Acupuncture Council and the our insurance company to enable the insurance company to deal with any potential claims and to help the British Acupuncture Council to develop its safe practice guidelines, as well as providing research data and information for the BAcC’s insurers and other interested parties.

15. Where relevant we maintain records of the patient’s consent to treatment, or the consent of their next-of-kin in order to be able to prove that the patient (and/or parent/guardian/next of kin) has given informed consent to treatment to secure evidence in the event of a civil claim, criminal prosecution, insurance claim or complaint.

16. When we receive a complaint from a person we make up a file containing the details of the complaint. This normally contains the identity of the complainant and any other individuals involved in the complaint. We will only use the personal information we collect to process the complaint and to check on the level of service we provide. We usually have to disclose the complainant’s identity to whoever the complaint is about. If a complainant doesn’t want information identifying him or her to be disclosed, we will try to respect that. However, it may not be possible to handle a complaint on an anonymous basis. We may need to provide personal information collected and processed in relation to complaints to the British Acupuncture Council or our insurance company. We will keep personal information contained in complaint files in line with our retention policy. This means that information relating to a complaint will be retained for two years from closure. It will be retained in a secure environment and access to it will be restricted according to the ‘need to know’ principle. Similarly, where enquiries are submitted to us we will only use the information supplied to us to deal with the enquiry and any subsequent issues and to check on the level of service we provide.

17. When someone visits our website we use a third party service, Google Analytics, to collect standard internet log information and details of visitor behaviour patterns. We do this to find out things such as the number of visitors to the various parts of the site. This information is only processed in a way which does not identify anyone. We do not make, and do not allow Google to make, any attempt to find out the identities of those visiting our website. If we do want to collect personally identifiable information through our website, we will be up front about this. We will make it clear when we collect personal information and will explain what we intend to do with it.

18. We use website cookies to improve user experience of our website by enabling our website to 'remember' users, either for the duration of their visit - using a 'session cookie' - or for repeat visits - using a 'persistent cookie'.

19. There is no search incorporated in our website. If this were to exist Search queries and results would be logged anonymously to help us improve our website and search functionality. No user-specific data is collected by us or any third party.

20. We use a third party service 123-reg Limited to help maintain the security and performance of our website. To deliver this service it processes the IP addresses of visitors to our website. We also have a link to freeindex.co.uk which is used primarily as a place where patients may post reviews. If a patient posts a review freeindex.co.uk do not have access to any personal data other than the name provided by the patient, location supplied by the patient and the email address supplied by the patient for verification of the review.

21. We use a third party service, 123-reg Limited to host our website including publishing our blog. This site is hosted at www.acupunctture-energy.co.uk , which is run by David Thorpe. We use a standard 123-reg Limited to collect anonymous information about users' activity on the site, for example the number of users viewing pages on the site, to monitor and report on the effectiveness of the site and help us improve it. Freeindex.co.uk requires visitors that want to post a comment to enter a name and email address. For more information about how freeindex.co.uk processes data, please see https://www.freeindex.co.uk/privacy.htm

Sharing your personal data Your personal data will be treated as strictly confidential, and will be shared: • with named third parties with your explicit consent; • with the relevant authority such as the police or a court, if necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which we are subject e.g. a court order; • with your doctor or the police if necessary to protect yours or another person’s life; • with the police or a local authority for the purpose of safeguarding a children or vulnerable adults; or • with my regulatory body, the British Acupuncture Council, or my insurance company in the event of a complaint or insurance claim being brought against me; or • my solicitor in the event of any investigation or legal proceedings being brought against me. For further details about the situations when information about you might be shared please see the Information Commissioner’s website at https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/personal-information/sharing-my-info/

How long do we keep your personal data?

We keep your personal data for no longer than reasonably necessary. We keep patient records for a period of 7 years in accordance with the British Acupuncture Code of Professional Conduct https://www.acupuncture.org.uk/public-content/effective-practice/bacc-professional-codes.html Personal data are kept on a hard copy file that is in a secure place or kept in the presence of David Thorpe when transported to my London clinic. Other than than in email exchange David Thorpe does not store personal data of patients on a computer except name, email address and telephone for contact purposes. At any time you may request that changes are made to your contact details. Your rights and your personal data Unless subject to an exemption under the GDPR, you have certain rights with respect to your personal data as set out below. • The right to request a copy of your personal data which we hold about you. • The right to request that we correct any personal data if it is found to be inaccurate or out of date. • The right to request your personal data is erased where it is no longer necessary for us to retain such data. • The right to withdraw your consent to the processing at any time. This right does not apply where we are processing information using a lawful purpose other than consent. • The right to request that we provide you with your personal data and where possible, to transmit that data directly to another data controller, (known as the right to data portability), (where applicable) [This right only applies where the processing is based on consent or is necessary for the performance of a contract with you and in either case the we are processing the data by automated means]. • The right, where there is a dispute in relation to the accuracy or processing of your personal data, to request a restriction is placed on further processing. • The right to object to the processing of personal data, (where applicable) [This right only applies where processing is based on legitimate interests (or the performance of a task in the public interest/exercise of official authority); direct marketing and processing for the purposes of scientific/historical research and statistics]. • The right to be informed if your data is lost. We shall also inform the Information Commissioner’s Office in accordance with the time limits in the GDPR. • The right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office. For further details about these rights please see the Information Commissioner’s website at https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/is-my-information-being-handled-correctly/ Further processing If we wish to use your personal data for a new purpose, not covered by this Privacy Notice, then we will provide you with a new notice explaining this new use prior to commencing the processing and setting out the relevant purposes and processing conditions.

Where and whenever necessary, we will seek your prior consent to the new processing.

To exercise all relevant rights, queries of complaints please in the first instance contact us at:

David Thorpe

Hillcrest,

Felden Lane,

Hemel Hempstead.

HP30BB

Tel: 07949 150 682

Email: davidthorpe1965@hotmail.com

Web: www.acupuncture-energy.co.uk

You can contact the Information Commissioners Office on 0303 123 1113 or via email https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/email/ or at the Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire. SK9 5AF. New Paragraph

Can Five Element Acupuncture Help Insomnia?

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 13:45:39 GMT

For those who have suffered with insomnia whether short term or chronic it can have a very negative impact causing irritability, low energy, depression and exacerbating physical conditions. Sleep is essential to our well-being and detrimental to our mental and physical health when disturbed. It can often make a person feel that they are slowly going mad.

When I am first approached by anyone who is suffering with Insomnia I will look at their lifestyle to assess whether there is anything that may be adding to their sleeplessness. By the time patients arrive at my clinic they have normally investigated, if not tried, various aids to help them.

The first advice I will give is:

1. Cut out all stimulants from midday onwards. Caffeine for some people can affect sleep even when drunk in the afternoon. Try not to have any sugar loaded products from early afternoon and definitely none in the evening. This will include fizzy drinks. For some people this may extend to cutting out all stimulants for the whole day.

2. No watching of screens or looking at phones up to 1 hour before bedtime at least, however, for some people this may need to be pushed out to 2 hours. The sleep hormone melatonin can be disturbed by these devices due to the blue light emitted.

3. The bedroom is for sleep and sex only. No televisions and other activities. Keep it clutter free and as dark as possible.

4. Have dinner at a reasonable time and no later than 8.00pm. The later you eat the more the body has to work at digesting food at a time when you are trying to sleep. Fatty foods such as cheese are more difficult to digest so are best eaten during the day. Eat bigger meals at breakfast and lunchtime and try to keep the evening meal lighter.

5. Exercise every day if possible, even if that is going for a walk. Exercise, besides being good for us on many levels, helps balance metabolism. Some people are so “head” based in their lifestyles that it creates an imbalance between the body and the mind. The mind can be in heightened state of over stimulation with the body becoming stagnant through lack of movement.

6. Alcohol can give the illusion that sleep is better when drunk but the reality is it disturbs the quality of sleep. In Chinese medicine it has been observed that each organ has an optimum time of performance. For the liver it is 1.00 – 3.00 a.m. This may explain why the effects of lunchtime (liver’s low active time) drinking can be stronger. At a time when one needs to be in deep sleep, if the liver is having to work hard to process the alcohol, it will effect the quality of this sleep.

This is the basic advice that will be built upon depending on the patient’s personal history. If your sleep is disturbed the above points are a great foundation and if you are fortunate may even remedy the insomnia. At the bottom of this article I have given some links with some interesting insights, advice and opinions on what may cause insomnia.

So now we enter the world of Five Element Acupuncture (FEA) and how it can help with insomnia. When I assess a patient at the initial consultation I act as detective. I enquire deeply into a person’s history which will go well beyond questions that are directly related to the insomnia. The reason is, that I am treating the person, not the insomnia. If I was treating only the insomnia I would select the same acupuncture points for each patient that presented. Each person is unique and my job is to work out why this person has insomnia? What was the root cause? Why does it continue? What could be acting as a block to its relief? This then forms the foundation of my diagnosis so that I may use Five Element Acupuncture to help address the insomnia.

With the diagnosis made I will select specific acupuncture points that I may feel will be of benefit to this person. Insomnia indicates that something is out of balance with this patient. How can I as their acupuncturist restore the balance?

More often than not a person will record some incident when it all started. Sometimes it is obvious, sometimes a bit more hidden. It could be a car crash, loss of a love one, the ending of a relationship, an illness or loss of job. Sometimes people will just say they feel completely “stressed out”. I look to restore control and relieve underlying stress through the selection of the acupuncture points. FEA enhances a person’s well-being and this will create a greater sense of calm and more sustained energy. In order for a car to run at it’s best, the engine needs to be oiled, the spark plugs clean, the battery charged, sufficient fuel in the tank, etc,. If anyone of these is not serviced properly then the car will not run well. The person who presents to me has many parts that make their whole and my job is to ensure each is doing it’s part so that an optimal state of well-being is achieved.

Say a patient presents with insomnia that they have had for over a year. It would be lovely if, through treatment, I could resolve their insomnia in 1 or 2 sessions. The reality is it will probably take a few sessions to address what they present with and as a general rule 6/10 sessions is enough to effect change. Some will respond sooner while others, dependant on their history, may take longer. Generally what happens is that a patient will gradually feel better and will find that their sleep improves. Initially they may be able to fall asleep more easily or that they can stay asleep slightly longer. More often than not they will say they feel better in themselves quite early on. As each person’s history is unique to them so is their insomnia.

As treatment progresses I assess from how the patient presents as to whether my diagnosis is correct. Diagnosis is on-going and forms the basis for how future treatments are planned. While some acupuncture points may be repeated as treatment progresses it is normal that in the first 5/6 sessions new points are selected at each session. It is imperative to lay the foundations and then gradually build upon those foundations. There is a structure and order to treatment which evolves as the patient returns for each session.

Like the car analogy let us look at a computer. This time the computer keeps crashing. If too many windows are open and the computer is trying to do more than it can cope with so it crashes. Sometimes people are unable to close windows when they don’t need them and this leads to overwhelm and dysfunction. Five Element Acupuncture has a particular treatment protocol which acts as a kind of reboot. By doing this treatment the person is reset and like a computer is able to run more smoothly. Beyond insomnia, this is a very common treatment in FEA, which can mark a profound improvement in many conditions.

I have treated quite a few people very effectively for insomnia but the patient has got to be open to suggestions and play a part in their own healing. I feel that Five Element Acupuncture can help people in real terms in dealing with insomnia and beyond that improve their overall well-being. Insomnia can have a severe negative effect on the body and mind. It can also unsettle a person’s spirit (not religious) – the core of who a person is. FEA by treating the body, mind and spirit brings about a positive transformation so that person feels more in control of their life and at peace with themselves.

David Thorpe

MBAcC LicAC DipBSSD

Five Element Acupuncturist

How long can you wait to have a baby?

davidthorpe1965@hotmail.com (david thorpe) — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 10:29:37 GMT

The following article is from The Atlantic and is an interesting read on age and fertility: Link to article

How To Relieve Back Pain

davidthorpe1965@hotmail.com (david thorpe) — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 14:28:05 GMT

Over the years I have successfully treated many patients with Five Element Acupuncture presenting with back pain. The following can be easily done both in the cases of acute or chronic pain and does not require any special equipment. I have also had cases where people have phoned me in acute pain and either cannot get to me for a session or I do not have a free slot and this is my go to advice. In a very high number of cases this will give immediate relief or at least lessen the pain. It can also be used to manage chronic back pain.

It is important not to be disturbed and also not to try doing anything else. For best results I would suggest being fully present, however, it is also okay to listen to music or the radio (no TV).

1. You will need a space to lie down on the floor. A soft carpet or a duvet to allow gentle cushioning for the body.

2. Laying on the Back with the feet hip width (about 8/10 inches ) apart and with the knees bent (for those familiar with yoga this is the backbend preparation posture) The head needs to be supported so that the neck is straight. A thick paperback or folded towel works very well. This will normally be about two inches but it varies from person to person. Hands are either placed on the body just below the rib cage, with the elbows on the floor, or the arms rest gently on the floor with the hands just away from the body.

3. The intention is then to stay in this position for 20/30 minutes (I would recommend a minimum of 20 minutes) remaining completely still. During this stage there are a couple of options. One is to remain passive and just switch off. This is fine and can still reap good benefits. If not too tired I would encourage very gentle involvement. Focus on your breath and the area of pain. As you breathe out mentally say “let go”, “release”, “relax”, ‘lengthen”, “widen”. Being with the pain rather than fighting it often changes its pattern. It is very important to stay as still as possible. If natural twitches occur that is fine but avoid fidgeting.

4. The final part and this is just as important is to move from this position very slowly. First gently rolling to one side staying there for 2/3 minutes and then again very slowly coming to a standing position.

Now that’s it. It’s simple and can be highly effective. If nothing else it will bring some sense of relaxation and restoration.

Now there are a few things going on here. The muscles that support the spine are allowed to rest. Muscles that may be in spasm creating pressure on nerves and resulting in pain are allowed to release. The part of the brain that links in with the parasympathetic (the part that creates relaxation and de stresses) is engaged which is the opposite of the sympathetic (active eg moving your arm). This results in a decrease of the of the flight, fright and freeze mechanism (sympathetic) that may be aggravating the pain. Literally the muscles can be in a state of over excitement. Engaging the parasympathetic sends a message for these muscles to relax which more often than not reduces the pain.

Also at night the discs that separate the vertebrae reabsorb fluid that is lost through out the day. Remaining on the floor in the manner as described above speeds this process up allowing for reabsorption of fluid into the discs. Space is then created taking pressure off a compressed spine.

David Thorpe

MBAcC LicAc DipBSSD YTTC

Clinics in Central London and Hemel Hempstead/Berkhamsted

Does Acupuncture Work?

davidthorpe1965@hotmail.com (david thorpe) — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 13:37:25 GMT

To be completely transparent I practise Five Element Acupuncture and have done for over 20 years. What many people do not realise is that there are many different styles of acupuncture but for clarity I will answer the question “does Five Element Acupuncture work?"

J R Worsley (the master who brought Five Element Acupuncture to the West) once said that you can expect 50 % of patients to respond positively. This leaves another 50 % who will benefit but at what level and how can success be defined.

I do a lot of Fertility work and if a person falls pregnant and has a baby (this occurs in 75 % of cases) we can say the Five Element Acupuncture has been successful. What is interesting to note here is what the vast majority of these patients report on their treatment. They have more energy, a greater sense of well-being and somehow feel lighter and more in control of their life.

Now in the cases where the outcome is a baby for the patients who turn up on my doorstep for help with fertility it can be said that the treatment was a success. For the remaining patients there may be factors (physical, genetic and age) than can act as a block for success and this is where nature can dictate what is achievable. So even with good intention and correct treatment success cannot be guaranteed. Is is then that Five Element Acupuncture becomes a support and way to help a patient process the disappointment.

In essence for the patients where a pregnancy does not occur, treatment will help to manage the pain, (which for some may be grief for others anger) so that they can move on with their life. For the vast majority Five Element Acupuncture works and a baby arrives, but for those not so fortunate, the treatment supports them at a core level so they can move on and enjoy all that life offers.

Now if we turn to the example of someone who presents with a physical condition. Over the years I don’t feel there is an area of the body that has not been pointed at: head, back, neck, chest, stomach, shoulders, knee and the list continues. Again a high proportion of these patients will report that the condition resolves itself or the pain disappears. But at the very least there will be some kind of improvement or the patient will feel stronger in themselves to manage their relationship with whatever they are presenting with.

Five Element Acupuncture treats the body, mind and spirit. It is amazing that if you lift someone’s spirit, there sense of joy and love for life, how their relationship with whatever pain they have shifts. In essence Five Acupuncture treats the person at a deep level and, as they feel better within themselves, so the physical symptoms they present with seem to resolve or improve.

So, in conclusion, does Five Element Acupuncture work? My patients would say yes, my colleagues would say yes. Is it the panacea for all that life throws at us? Probably not! For any patients who are willing to commit to treatment I feel it is a journey worth taking. With good grace it will deal with whatever issue or condition you are seeking treatment for. At the very least it will allow you to feel better within yourself and be a wonderful support through the stresses of life.

David Thorpe

MBAcC LicAc DipBSS YTTC

Clinics in central London and Hemel Hempstead/Berkhamsted